Iran Explains Why An American Plane Was Spotted At Tehran Airport

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran says that a plane which landed in Tehran
airport flying the American flag was leased to Ghana's
presidential office and carrying a business delegation from the
African nation.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that a plane owned by the
Bank of Utah was parked in Mehrabad Airport in Tehran on Tuesday.

Its presence was noteworthy as the United States and Iran have
been at loggerheads for decades and the Islamic Republic is
subject to certain economic sanctions.

State news agency IRNA on Friday night quoted Iranian foreign
ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham as saying that the plane was
transporting the brother of Ghana's president and a mining
delegation.

"The plane is on lease to Ghana's presidential office, and its
passengers were Ghanaian senior officials led by the president's
brother. None of its crew members were American," Afkham was
quoted as saying.

The Ghanaian delegation was in Iran to follow up on agreements
reached between the two countries two years ago, she said, adding
that it departed on Thursday.

The New York Times said it had reviewed a confidential document
which showed that "the plane is held in a trust by the Bank of
Utah and on behalf of the mining company, Engineers and Planners,
which is based in Accra".

It quoted a Bank of Utah executive, Brett King, as saying the
company had no idea why the plane was at the airport and it was
investigating further.

There was no immediate comment from Ghanian officials.

Iran and world powers are engaged in negotiations over Tehran's
disputed nuclear program. Some international sanctions imposed
over its program have been eased temporarily after a deal was
reached last year. Washington has said the lifting of sanctions
can only happen "in total" after a comprehensive deal is reached.

Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stepped up a to
expand ties with African countries, though his campaign yielded
little in terms of trade and votes at the United Nations against
sanctions targeting its nuclear program.